Florida preempts most local cannabis regulation under FL §381.986. Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers must locate at least 500 feet from public or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools. Miami-Dade applies pharmacy zoning to dispensaries since the state bars stricter local rules.
Under FL §381.986(8)(b), Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) must be sited at least 500 feet from the real property comprising a public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school. Local governments may either prohibit MMTCs entirely or treat them no more restrictively than they treat licensed pharmacies under their zoning code; they cannot impose unique buffer or separation rules beyond pharmacy parity. Miami-Dade has chosen pharmacy parity in unincorporated areas, allowing MMTCs in commercial and pharmacy zones. Recreational cannabis remains illegal after Florida Amendment 3 failed in November 2024, so no adult-use buffer rules exist.
Operating an MMTC inside the 500-foot school buffer or in a non-permitted zone triggers state license action by the Office of Medical Marijuana Use and county code enforcement.
See how Miami Gardens's buffer zones rules stack up against other locations.
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